In a fortuitous piece of planning, the Phoenix Theatre Company is currently rehearsing a production of the drama “Anastasia” by Marcelle Maurette due to be performed from Saturday, April 2nd to Saturday, April 9th.

Fortuitous because while preparations were being made for its production, unknown to them the BBC were also scheduling two major series on Imperial Russia: “War and Peace” (Tolstoy’s Napoleonic epic) and the fascinating three-part documentary on the Romanov Tsars of Russia, culminating in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917 and the murder of his family. “Anastasia” tells the end of that tragic story.

The project began a year ago when local director Brian Jackson discovered “Anastasia” in a mixed set of plays. “I was immediately fascinated by it. It has all the elements of first class drama; mystery, ambition, ruthless characters and the prospect of love coming to the rescue.”

During the 1920s newspapers carried stories of a mysterious woman claiming to be Anastasia, a daughter of the Tsar who had somehow survived the massacre. Although unproven the rumours persisted and this play is a result.

It is a great challenge for the cast who are called on to recreate a criminal conspiracy to foist an imposter on the surviving members of Russian aristocracy. Do they succeed?

As the plot ebbs and flows the audience will be left to decide the answer to the final tantalising question.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from The Box Office at Rossiter Books 01989 564464 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/thephoenixtheatre Tickets cost £8.50 (or £7.50 on Monday 4th April).